A star-studded selection of pro hockey players are trading in their sticks and skates for bats and spikes. It's time for the second annual Gorges, Comeau Homebase Charity Slo-Pitch clash this weekend. Team Comeau and Team Gorges, play head to head Friday night at Elks Stadium.
After the Friday night showdown, there's a one-day co-ed mixed tournament at the Mission Sports Fields, and all funds raised go toward JoaAnna's House.
Last year's inaugural event raised $117,000 for the cause. JoeAnna's house will provide a home away from home for families visiting Kelowna for treatments at Kelowna General Hospital.
The event includes an autograph signing and memorabilia auction ahead of the celebrity ball-game at Elks Stadium. And they provide some pretty good entertainment for the fans on the Friday night."
"This just kind of made sense," said co-organizer Josh Gorges. "Because we're doing a good thing, we're raising money and we're helping people out, but we get to come and get to see friends from out of town that we haven't seen in years."
"We're so privileged and we're so lucky to have the lives we have," said former Kelowna Rocket and newly acquired Vancouver Canuck Luke Schenn. "You just want to give back any way you can and obviously there's a huge need for JoeAnna's house."
"It's kind of the best of both worlds," said KGH Foundation CEO Doug Rankmore. "Not only is this a great event for a great cause, but they have a ton of fun doing it too."
Saturday is a one-day, co-ed slo-pitch tournament where all levels of players can compete with the hockey stars at Mission Sports Fields.
